By John Oba,
Abuja
The federal government has engaged the services of experts to tackle the impact of the tomato pest called Tuta Absoluta and locally referred to as tomato ebola that has invaded tomato farms in six states in Nigeria, leading to shortage of tomato in the market.
The minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, while addressing the press yesterday at the Ministry said the pest which started in South America far back in 1912 and got into Nigeria through Niger Republic can ravage and wipeout tomato farms within 48 hours by boring into fruits and stems causing enormous food loss if not tackled quickly.
Ogbeh said the Ministry is working with Agronet Nigeria representative of Ruselle UK who are experts in Tuta Absoluta containment programme for containment solution in the country, adding that the team is expected to deliver containment packs within the shortest possible time which will enable farmers resume production activities with desired yield to reverse the precarious situation at hand.
The pest which is currently ravaging six states which includes Jigawa, Kano, Kastina, Plateau, Kaduna and Lagos according to the minister could infest other crops if solution is not quickly found.
He said it may cost the government N5 per plant of tomato to treat the pest but that the federal government will partner with the state and local government areas to ensure complete containment of the pest and farmers will continue a sustainable production of fruits for local consumption and provide raw materials for processing.
He said the cost of loss to tomato production from the pest is yet unknown until state give figures but that the cost of fighting the pest will be high as ordinary pesticide can not deal with it.
